The effect of ethanol upon early development in mice and rats. V. in vivo effect of acute preimplantation intoxication with or without previous chronic alcoholization
Checiu, M.; Sandor, S.
Morphologie et Embryologie 29(3): 149-157
1983
ISSN/ISBN: 0377-5038 PMID: 6230522 Document Number: 214800
Albino rats (Wistar) and albino mice (RAP) were either injected intravenously with ethanol during the preimplantation period (day 4 and 3, respectively) or injected in the same way after a previous chronic alcoholization (peroral consumption of 20% ethanol for 50-60 and 32-35 days, respectively before mating, adding the days until killing). The control of possible effects was performed on day 5 (rats) and 4 (mice) by usual flushing, examination and photographing of oviductal and uterine embryos. A group of albino rats, with chronic alcoholization, was controlled for late, fetal effects (resorption rate, skeletal control, possible ocular anomalies). The main results obtained were as follows: Acute ethanol intoxication. Rats: significant increase of pathological, fragmented preimplantation embryos with a marked "litter effect". Mice: no deleterious effect upon preimplantation development. Chronic alcoholization + acute ethanol intoxication. Rats: significant retardation of the preimplantation development rate and a significant increase of the number of pathological, fragmented embryos with a marked "litter effect". Mice: demonstrable advance of preimplantation development and migration rate. Chronic alcoholization--late fetal control in rats: the increase of resorption rate; the more frequent absence of sacral vertebrae; very rare rib anomalies and the absence of ocular malformations.